National Museums of Ireland Fun Family Events for 2018

Our National Museums are a treasure trove of adventure and discovery! They run regular free events for families at all their locations. Read on to find out what is coming up at all four of the National Museums of Ireland for kids and families.

National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology, Kildare St., Dublin

In Medieval times a lady would give a knight a love token to carry into ‘battle’ for good luck. Join us to find out more about love and courting in Medieval times and to make your own love token to bring home. No booking required. Located in the Learning Resource Room, First Floor. Not wheelchair accessible. Drop-in Activity. Families with children 8+

2pm – 4pm, Friday, February 16
Learn how to think like an archaeologist and try to solve the puzzle of some mystery objects! This is a drop-in session in the Kildare Room on the ground floor of the Museum. No booking required. Suitable for families with children aged eight years plus.

Did you know that Dublin was established by the Vikings? Take our Viking Ireland tour with museum educator Annie Birney to learn more about Viking raiders, traders and settlers, see the skeleton of a Viking warrior, and discover ice skates made of bone! No booking required. Places are limited and allocated on a first come basis. Meet at Reception. Not wheelchair accessible. Adults & Children 7+

National Museum of Ireland – Natural History, Merrion St., Dublin

Spring has sprung so why not drop in to the Museum and try our Spring Activity Trail. Copies of this activity sheet are available at the stands in Reception and the Irish Room. Don’t forget your pencil!
Drop-in Activity. Audience: Families

11am – 1pm, Saturday, February 10
What’s the difference between a chimp, a gorilla and an orangutan. Meet a zoologist, investigate ape skulls and complete the primate trail to find out more about our closest relatives. No booking required but there may be a short wait time. Suitable for children aged eight years plus.

You decide the route of the tour by having an animal lottery- be prepared for a lot of walking! No booking required, places limited and allocated on a first-come basis 15 minutes before tour starts. Not wheelchair accessible. Audience: Families

An opportunity to explore the romantic histories of objects on display in the Museum’s collections with Lisa Flanagan, focusing on the fashion and furniture exhibitions, The Way We Wore and Irish Country Furniture. No booking required, places allocated on a first come basis 15 minutes before tour starts. Audience: Families

2.30pm – 4pm, Friday, February 16
Celebrate the Year of the Dog and learn all about Chinese New Year with this special art workshop for families. All art materials will be provided. Suitable for families with children aged seven years plus. Booking is required.

Drop in and explore the design of military uniforms, headwear and other equipment Irish men and women used while preparing for or fighting in different conflicts. A chance to test designs of objects from the Museum’s collection for handling. No booking required. All ages

Join a public tour of Recovered Voices exploring the experience of Irish men and women during World War I. No booking required, places allocated on a first-come basis 15 minutes before tour starts. Audience: Adults & Children 12+

National Museum of Ireland – Country Life, Turlough Park, Mayo

Working on some winter woollies? Starting a new crochet project? Come along to our Knitting & Crochet Circle for some help, advice and a good auld yarn. Beginners welcome. No booking required. Drop-in Activity. Audience: Adults & Children 7+

Join artist Veronika Straberger for a Valentine’s themed creative writing workshop. Compose a love poem and make a unique card for that special someone. Booking required for workshop. Audience: Adults & Children 12+

Join artist Nuala Clarke for a fun and collaborative workshop for parents and children with a shared interest in art. With a little help, see if you can draw an object from our collections with your eyes closed. Booking required for workshop. Audience: Adults & Children 7+

2.30pm – 3.30pm, Thursday, February 15
Hear the story of the Little Red Hen and her friends, told through puppets, in this fun, interactive gallery session with Barbara Barclay. Hear the tale, handle objects from the collection and then make your own character. Booking required. Suitable for children aged three to six years.

National Museum of Ireland – Natural History, Merrion St., Dublin

Spring has sprung so why not drop in to the Museum and try our Spring Activity Trail. Copies of this activity sheet are available at the stands in Reception and the Irish Room. Don’t forget your pencil!
Drop-in Activity. Audience: Families

11am – 1pm, Thursday, March 29
Touch real bird eggs and feathers during this drop-in session with bird expert Jamie Durrant. Jamie has worked with Birdwatch Ireland and is on the Heritage Council’s school panel of experts. No booking required but there may be a short wait time. Suitable for children aged eight years plus.

2.30pm – 4.30pm, Sunday, March 11
Enjoy a bilingual class in glass with renowned glass artist Róisín de Buitléar. Explore the art and skills of glass engraving with all materials provided. This is a special bilingual family workshop to celebrate Seachtain na Gaelige 2018. Suitable for all ages. Booking required.

A free Late Modern Irish History revision session for Leaving Cert students led by Dr Yvonne McDermott, History Lecturer, GMIT Mayo campus on March 3rd and by Dr Fiona White, History Lecturer GMIT Mayo campus on March 10th. Booking required.

2.30pm – 3.30pm, Sunday, March 11
Join the National Print Museum for a special Mother’s Day gift making workshop. Use traditional and contemporary methods and materials to handcraft and decorate your own hardback book. Booking required. Suitable for adults and children aged seven years plus.

The talented Connacht Textile Crafters (CTC) are holding two open sessions on wreath making for all seasons. The CTC work in a range of textile crafts, using both traditional and contemporary techniques. No booking required.Event Type: Drop-in Activity Audience: Adults & Children 12+

National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology, Kildare St., Dublin

03/01/2018 – 03/01/2018 11.00am – 12.00pm & 2.30pm – 3.30pm
Did you know that there is a book in the museum which was preserved in a bog for over 1,000 years? Find out more about this amazing book, learn about the skill of the scribe in Medieval Ireland and then create your own example of calligraphy to take home. Booking required. Please email educationarch@museum.ie or call 01 6486 334. Located in the Learning Resource Room, First Floor. Not Wheelchair Accesible.
Workshop. Families with children Ages 10+. Free Admission.

04/01/2018 – 04/01/2018 1.00pm – 1.45pm
Join museum educator Trisha Ryan to take a look at the newly refurbished exhibition, Ór – Ireland’s Gold. Learn about the raw materials used by the Bronze Age people of Ireland and how objects, such as the Lunula, Sun Discs and Gorgets, were made and the special meanings and properties they held for people.

06/01/2018 – 06/01/2018 2.00pm – 4.00pm
Archaeologists often find precious objects under the ground but is everything found at the same depth? Call into the museum to find out! Create a special bookmark, decorate it with precious objects and decide if they should be close to the surface, or deep underground. No booking required. Located in the Kildare Room, Ground Floor. Wheelchair accessible.Drop-in Activity. Families with children 7+. Free Admission.

20/01/2018 – 20/01/2018 2.30pm – 3.15pm
Take a tour of the iconic treasures in the National Museum, including the ‘Tara’ Brooch and the Ardagh Chalice. No booking required. Places allocated on a first come basis. Wheelchair accessible.
Tour. Ages 7+. Free Admission.

27/01/2018 – 27/01/2018 10.00am – 1.00pm
How do natural history museums acquire and care for their collections in the 21st century? Drop into the Dead Zoo and meet ethical taxidermist, Jazmine Miles-Long, and natural history conservator, Lucie Mascord; see up close the techniques involved in mounting or stuffing an animal, and the skills in fixing, repairing and conserving bad and decaying taxidermy. No booking required. Not wheelchair accessible.
Drop-in Activity. Adults & Children 12+. Free Admission.

During 2018
In January, the Museum welcomes internationally celebrated Irish Artist Róisín de Buitléar, as Artist in Residence for 2018. Róisín will have a studio on site at Collins Barracks throughout 2018, and an exciting and diverse public engagement programme is planned around the year’s residency. A collaborative glass exhibition, entitled CAUTION! Fragile Tradition in Transition opens at the Museum on 8th March 2018. For further information on this residency contact education@museum.ie
Various Events. All Ages. Free Admission.

01/01/2018 – 11/03/2018 During Opening Hours
In Kind is an exhibition of portraits celebrating the contribution of community volunteers, and showcases work produced by members of the Henrietta Adult Community Education (HACE) and Phibsboro Active Retirement Association. This project was led by artist and educator Janine Davidson, and the groups’ portraits are a response to the Museum’s temporary exhibitions, Portrait of a Century and Joe Caslin’s The Volunteers.
Temporary Exhibition. All Ages. Free Admission.

02/01/2018 – 02/01/2018 2.00pm – 3.30pm
Join the Armagh Rhymers, one of Ireland’s most celebrated folk theatre ensembles, for their traditional seasonal performance at Collins Barracks. Take part in this annual tradition and see them sing, act, make music, dance, tell stories and act the clown, dressed in costume and beautifully crafted masks of flax, willow and straw. This January they will once again give voice to a tradition that dates back to 2,500 years. Suitable for all ages. No Booking Required, places allocated on a first come basis.
Performance. All Ages. Free Admission.

28/01/2018 – 28/01/2018 3.00pm – 4.00pm
Join a public tour of the Eileen Gray gallery, exploring one of the most influential designers and architects of the 20th century. No booking required, places allocated on a first-come basis 15 minutes before tour starts.
Tour. Adults & Children 7+. Free Admission.

National Museum of Ireland – Country Life, Turlough Park, Mayo

Last chance to see the Hoard and the Sword Exhibition. This exhibition explores the discovery of a hoard of silver bracelets from Cushalogurt, Kilmeena and a Viking sword found in the river Moy at Coolcronaun.

This is the largest hoard of silver armrings found in Ireland and the sword is a fine example of late 10th century craftsmanship. These objects provide evidence of Mayo’s Viking Heritage.Temporary Exhibition.

The 6th January is traditionally when women have their own Christmas celebration and the men took on their household duties. Join us to celebrate Nollaig na mBan with musician Emer Mayock and friends. All musicians and listeners are welcome. Drop in event. No booking required.Performance. All Ages. Free Admission.

Have you made a resolution to try something different for the New Year? Come along to our Knitting & Crochet Circle for some help, advice and a good auld yarn. Beginners welcome. No booking required.Drop-in Activity. Adults & Children 7+. Free Admission.

On a dark afternoon in deepest winter, feed your soul with poetry. Listen to a reading from Mayo poet Ger Reidy and enjoy stories and poems from the Museum’s Writers’ Group and other local writers. Take a seat and listen, or share your own poetry and prose. No booking required.Drop-in Activity. Adults & Children 12+. Free Admission.

Come along and meet the talented Connacht Textile Crafters (CTC) for St. Brigid’s themed open sessions. The CTC work in a range of textile crafts, using both traditional and contemporary techniques. No booking required.Drop-in Activity. Adults & Children 12+. Free Admission.